Child Relocation

Experienced Denver Child Relocation Attorneys

After two spouses end their marriage, they may need to make arrangements for child custody and related issues, such as child relocation. While a divorce or legal separation is pending in Colorado, a parent cannot move any children of the marriage outside the state without permission from the other parent or a family law judge. After the marriage has been dissolved, a parent may take a child out of the state for a visit, but formal permission is necessary to permanently take the child out of the state.

For guidance in this potentially complex area, divorcing or former spouses should consult a skilled child relocation lawyer at the Denver firm of Plog & Stein, P.C. We have helped numerous individuals fight for or against the relocation of their children. Our entire team is prepared to protect your interests with the tenacity that you deserve.

Thinking About Relocating a Child in Denver, CO?

During the process of dissolving a marriage, a parent sometimes wants to relocate a child as part of an initial custody decision. In many cases, however, a parent decides to move out of the state or to another part of Colorado after an existing custody order has been in effect for some time. Often, the reason for the move is related to the parent's job.

If the other parent objects, a Colorado family law court will do the following:

Take into account where the parents want to live at the time of the divorce and make parenting time decisions for their children accordingly

Evaluate what is in the best interests of the child under C.R.S. § 14-10-124 to decide whether relocation is appropriate

When a former spouse contests a projected move after an initial custody order has been made, a Colorado court must balance a parent's right to move with the decrease in parenting time for the other parent. If parenting time is equally shared, a parent who wants to relocate to a place that substantially changes the geographical relationship between the children and the other parent must give the other parent a written statement with four elements. A child relocation attorney in Denver can help a parent construct this statement.

Under C.R.S. § 14-10-129(1)(a)(II), these elements consist of:

A notice of intent to relocate the children

The location where the parent intends to live

The reason the parent is relocating

A proposed revised parenting plan.

What to Expect at Child Relocation Hearings

Once requested, child relocation hearings are given priority on a family law court's docket. The judge will look at whether relocation is in a child's best interests. There are no presumptions in favor of either parent.

At the hearing, the court will consider the following factors:

Why a parent wants to relocate with the child

Why the other parent objects to the relocation

The quality of each parent's relationship with the child since the previous parenting time order was issued

Educational opportunities for the child at either location

The presence of extended family at either location

Any advantage to the child in remaining with his or her primary caregiver

How the move will be likely to affect the child

Whether there is a reasonable parenting time schedule that can be created if the relocation is allowed

Any other factors relevant to the child's best interests

Discuss Your Child Custody Issue With Us at Plog & Stein, P.C.!

Our firm's knowledgeable child custody attorneys have the skills and dedication to help you, whether you are a Denver parent hoping to relocate with a child or a parent who is concerned about losing valuable parenting time due to an ex-spouse's move. Our Denver child relocation lawyers understand that child relocation and the related court proceedings can be stressful, and we will take a compassionate, detail-oriented approach to your case for a higher chance of success. You don't have to do this on your own.

His passion and ferocity kept me going through this long ordeal.When I first came to Plog & Stein it was simply discuss the renegotiation of child support. Little did I know that within 72 hours I would be retaining Steve Plog for a custody battle. His passion and ferocity kept me going through this long ordeal. I have recommended him to my friends and I would recommend him to anyone with who wants honest and effective representation. Carolyn

★★★★★

I recommend Sarah and the attorneys at Plog & Stein to anyone that has these types of family issues and need strong, knowledgeable representation.I am thankful for the job Sarah McCain did for me in my fight with my ex-wife for visitation rights with my daughter. Sarah and the team at Plog & Stein handled my case in an efficient, affordable, and professional manner. Sarah negotiated a new parenting plan as well as acceptable visiting rights and even a favorable modification in my child support. I recommend Sarah and the attorneys at Plog & Stein to anyone that has these types of family issues and need strong, knowledgeable representation. Tom

★★★★★

At the end of the day he was able to produce a settlement that was fair to both parties.I highly recommend Stephen Plog for anyone in need of a top notch domestic relations attorney. After a 27 year marriage, Stephen represented me in a complicated and sometimes bitter divorce with many unique challenges. At the end of the day he was able to produce a settlement that was fair to both parties but limited my alimony payments to only 3 years. He is smart, cuts to the chase, knows the court system in the Denver metropolitan area and can be trusted to get his clients the best possible settlement. Neal

★★★★★

Their service was outstanding, with prompt responses to all of my questions.Sarah McCain and Plog & Stein were wonderful to me during such a difficult time in my life. Their service was outstanding, with prompt responses to all of my questions and creative ideas throughout the proceedings to help things go smoothly. Sarah's compassion, patience, and expertise were especially invaluable to me. I highly recommend them. Sandy

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation.

This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

We serve clients throughout the State of Colorado including, but not limited to, those in the following localities: Denver County including Denver; Arapahoe County including Aurora, Centennial, Greenwood Village, and Littleton; Broomfield County; Douglas County including Highlands Ranch, Parker, Castle Rock, and Franktown; Jefferson County including Lakewood, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, and Golden; Adams County including Brighton, Westminster, Northglenn, and Thornton; Boulder County; Elbert County including Elizabeth and Kiowa; El Paso County; Weld County; Larimer County.